Stuffing-box



J. IVI. KERN.

STUFFING BOX.

APPLICATION HLED MAY22,1918.

1,304,690. Patented May 27, 1919.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I; M. KERN.

STUFFING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 191.8.

1,304,690. Patnted My 27, 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- JOSEPH M. KERN, F OSWEGO, NEW 'YO-RK..

Specicationof-Letters Patent. A Patented 27,1919,

Application led May 22, 1918.- Serial No. 235,944.

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. KERN, citizenof the United States of America, and resident of Oswego, in the countyof Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Stuffing- Boxes, of which the following, taken inconnection -with the accompanying drawings, is

" a.' full, clear, and exact description. f

This invention relates to certain improvements in stuling boxes forreciprocating piston rods as used more particularly in the cylinders ofsteam locomotives and other high pressure engines or pumps. Thesestuiiing boxes are usually provided with split packing rings of suitable-metal having wedging ends spring pressed .together toward the gland soas to compress the main packing ring upon the rod to prevent leakage ofsteam from the cylinder.V

I have found however, that, after a short period of use, these packingrings and particularly the wedging ends thereof become battered and wornto such am extent as to not only destroy their eilicienc'y by allowingthe steam to escape therethrough to the atmosphere but also to mutilatethe piston rod', thus necessitating frequent replacement of the ringsand truing up ofthe rods.

Furthermore this excessive escape of steam around and usually in advanceof the locomotive frequently obscures the vision of danger and othersignals resulting in more or less serious accidents and loss of powerwhich might otherwise be avoided. t

These objectionable results are due largely to the fact that the highsteam pressure in theadja'cent end of thel cylinder is allowed to exertits force upon the inner end of the main packing ring in the samedirection as that of' the spring and produces excessive friction betweenthe ring andA rod during the inwardstroke of the piston while, duringthe outward stroke, when the high pressure steam is practically cut off,the friction between the rod and ring is reduced to approximately thatproduced by the spring azlone. Y

The main object of my invention is to obviate this excessive frictionand wear and to materially increase the life and efficiency of stuingboxes of this character by preventing the passage of the high pressuresteam to the packing rings.

Other objects -and'uses relatingto specificA parts of the stuffing boxwill be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings- .Figure -1,- is a longitudinal sectional :view of oneform of my improved stuiiing box and adjacent end of -a steam cylinder.of which it forms a part, the packing rings being shown in elevation.

Fig. -2- is a longitudinal sectional view l o f Vthe same stuing boxthrough the packingv Figs. -3-, -4.-, and -5- are transverse sectionalviews taken respectively on lines`3-3, H, and 5 5, Fig. -'1-.

Fig. 6- is a longitudinal sectional View 'of aslightly modified form ofstuing box.

F1g.\-7- is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of lines 7-7,Fig. -6-.

As illustrated in Figs. -lto *'5- inelusive, the stuiing ,box forms aIpart of a locomotive) steam cylinder #1- having a reciprocatory piston-2- land rod 3- therefor and comprises a tubular boss 4 on the hea'd as-5-' of the cylinder, and a gland plate or follower -6- bolted to theouter end of said boss and having the usual .The portion ofthe head -.-5at the inner end ofthe boss is provided with an annular shoulder -'8-surrounding thel rodv -3- of saidsleeve abuts against the inner end of atubular sleeve or bushing l0-f which fits closely, but removably, withinthe boss -4.- and abuts at its outer lend against the inner face of thegland plate -6-, so that the two members -9- and 10- are normally heldend to end `against each other and against the members +6- and -8- toprevent their endwise movement.

.The inner edge of the sleeve 9- surrounds the periphery of the `rod 3-and forms a steam abutment at the inner end of the box to receive andresistthe direct thrust of the steam from the cylinder.

A collar -11- is fitted upon the rod 3- to allow the latter to slidefreely therethrough and is preferably divided diametrically intoopposite half'sections to allow it to compensate for wear by the rod,the sections being held .together by a. solid ring 12- which is seatedin an annular recess in the periphery thereof as shown 1n Fig.

, A pia packing ring 1en is aaai in an j annular groove -14- in theinner face of the sectional collar 11; and together with `said coll-arand the sleeve #-9- serve to expand the ring 13m by steampassing alongthe rod -3- to the outer face ofthe ring, it may be easily prevented byproviding the'ring with one or more small holes 14j-:leading from itsouter end face to its periphery so as to instantly produce the samesteam pressure at the periphery and thereby restore it to its mostefficient packing position for preventing the action of the highpressure steam upon the main packing ring as -15-. y

This main packing ring -15- is inclosed within bushing -10- but aparttherefrom and is fitted upon the rod -'3- to allow the latter to slidefreely therethrough, itpbeing split or divided into sections to allow itto compensate for wear. Y

The outer end face of the ring -15- is preferably conical for wedgingengagement with the adj acent'ends of a solid ring --16-v and a Splitpacking ring --17-, the ring l5- being constantly forced into engagementwith the members 16- and -17- by a coil spring 18- which surrounds therod 3- and has its opposite end bearing against suitable shoulders onsaidy ring and bushing -10- respectively as shown in Fig.

The periphery of the member -17- and inner face of the member 16 aresimilarly tapered toward the outer end of the box and fit closely oneupon the other, the rin -v-16- abutting against the inner face of negland plate 6- to prevent its outward displacement and to render theaction of the packings 15- and -17- more effective in further preventingthe escape of steam from the cylinder outwardly through the box, itbeing understood that both rings 15- and -17- are -compressed upon therod 3- by the same end thrust pressure of tispring -18-` coacting withthe collar In Figs. -6 and -7- l have shown a modied form of stuliingbox in which a tubular boss -4- is screwed into the end head -5- of thecylinder, the outer end of said boss being threaded externally andengaged by a split or sectional gland-plate or screw cap follower -6-having an annular peripheral groove 20- for receiving a clamping ring2lby which the cap -6 may be tightened on the `boss 45- to`yfrictionally hOldLSaid cap against loosening.

This cap takes the place of the gland-plate 6-' and rings 16- and -17-and is provided with a concave seat -17- for the adjacent tapered end ofthe wedgefring -15, which is spring pressed against' said seat totighten said wedge-ring upon the piston rod '-3- and thereby reduce theliability of leakage at this joint.

The inner end face of thebushing as -10- is also provided with a concaveseat 22- for the adjacent tapered end of x1- split or sectional packingring '-23 which The ends of the clamping ring F--21- are approximatelytangential to the periphery of the cap or gland plate 6- and at rightangles to each other, one of said ends being threaded and passed throughan aperture in the other end and provided with a nut for tightening'purposes,

A lock plate or washer 2ais inter'- posed between the nut and aperturedend of the clamping ring and is provided with suitable lips .--25- forengaging opposite sides of the adjacent portion of said ring to hold itagainst turning, the adjacent faces of the nut and washer being serratedto hold the nut against turning when tightened.

lf desired the weight of the sectional ring -1'1- may be partiallysupported l by a light spring 26- resting on the lower side of the anglering -9- as shown in Figs. 2- and -5- so as to reduce the wear upon therings -11- and 13- and rod abuts against the inner end wall as --8- yits function more freely and eiiciently. What I claim is: j 1. Astuiling box vfor the piston rods of steam cylinders comprisinga'tubular boss on the head of the cylinder, a sleeve tted within theboss and provided with an inner annular flange, means including aglandplate for holdin the sleeve against endwise movement, a sp itpacking ring upon the piston rod abutting against the inner end .face ofsaid ange, an additional split pack mg ringwithin said sleeve betweensaid ange and gland plate and spring pressed toward the gland plate, andmeans for compressing the vsecond named vring upon the piston rod underpressure of the spring.

2. A stuing box for the piston rods of steam cylinders comprising atubular boss on the head of the cylinder, a sleeve fitted within theboss and provided with an inner annular flange, means including 'a'gland-k plate for holding the sleeve against endwise movement. a solidpacking 'ring abut '1 1,304,690 f v i 3 `endwise against saidgland-plate and provided with an outwardly-tapered bore, anoutwardly-tapered split ring fitted lWithin said bore and provided witha concave inner` end face, an additional split packing'ring having aconvex outer end face abutting against said concave face, and a springinterposed between said ange and the second named split ring for holdingthe convex and concave end faces of both split ings in 10 contact.

1n witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May,1918.

JOSEPH M. KERN.

Witnesses:

M. J. WALTER, ALICE WALTER.

